The Power of Staying Calm in Conflict: What Happened When 10 Women Got Honest — Again
Yesterday, I co-led The Power of Staying Calm in Conflict for the Your Women’s Circle community in Dubai and once again, I left the room moved by what happens when women gather to speak, listen, and reflect with honesty.
This was the second time in just two weeks that this workshop brought together 10 women from different backgrounds and cultures and once again, the room stayed full well past the scheduled time.
Not because we ran overtime.
But because no one wanted to leave.
💬 Here’s what we explored:
How to recognize your emotional patterns in the moment
What your conflict style might reveal about your inner story
How to shift reactive communication into neutral language that protects connection
We also explored the power of triggers as messengers, not enemies and why noticing our thoughts in the heat of the moment can change how we show up.
One woman shared:
“I never realized how much my tone changes when I feel dismissed.”
Another said:
“This helped me see conflict in a whole new light — I don’t have to avoid it anymore.”
🧠 This Week’s Tool: “Name It to Tame It”
One of the tools I shared during the session was a simple but powerful tip grounded in neuroscience:
Name It to Tame It.
When you feel emotionally activated — during a disagreement, a triggering moment, or even a tense work exchange — try this:
Label what you’re feeling.
Say (in your mind or out loud):
“I’m feeling anxious.”
“I’m feeling dismissed.”
“I’m feeling frustrated.”
This act of naming an emotion engages the prefrontal cortex — the part of your brain responsible for logic and decision-making — and helps calm the emotional center of the brain (your amygdala).
As psychologist Dr. Dan Siegel shares, when you name it, you tame it.
👉 Read more about this technique here.
Try this the next time conflict arises — it might be the 2-second pause that helps you choose clarity over reaction.
💛 A Note From Me
Facilitating these workshops always reminds me of something deeper:
We’re not broken because we feel overwhelmed.
We’re not weak because we’re triggered.
We’re human and we just haven’t been taught the tools.
But when we learn how to pause, how to name what’s happening, and how to speak with clarity…
We soften.
We connect.
We grow stronger — together.
With appreciation,
Jana 💛
📥 Want Free Tools to Practice at Home?
Download the Calm in Conflict Toolkit — my free guide with practical tools you can use right away.
It includes:
Neutral language scripts
Tone & delivery tips
Emotional regulation tools
A 4-part conflict communication framework